ALBANY - After a weather delay this weekend, the Long County Blue Tide track team finally had the chance to take to the course for the AAA sectional meet at Hugh Mills Stadium on Monday, May 4.

After sending just four to the state meet a year ago, the team more than quadrupled that number with 18 competitors qualifying for the state meet.

The biggest story of the day was senior Cortney Charles. He took home the best throw at the sectionals in the boys discus with a personal record of 152-06, qualifying for the state meet for the second year in a row.

Charles’ throw was the third longest throw in AAA when compared to the second sectional meet that happened over the weekend and was just three feet shy of being the second longest throw in the state.

Joining Charles in qualifying for the state finals in field events are Amire Saunders in the girls long jump, Jason Familia in the boys long jump and Aaron Cortez and Noah Cook in the boys high jump.

In the running events, six individuals and two relay teams qualified for the state meet. The boys 4x800 team made up of Isaiah Clark, Trevor Kuchar, DeMonte Clark and Navey Johnson placed sixth while the 4x200 team made up of Wesley Williams, Michael Somers, Mason Johnson and Familia placed fifth.

Somers placed sixth in the 110 meter hurdles and second in the 300 meter hurdles with Kai Samuel placing eighth in the 110 meter hurdles. Kuchar took seventh place in the 1600 meter race.

Saunders also qualified in a running event, taking eighth place in the girls 100 meter dash. Devion Ambrose set a new personal record in the girls 300 meter hurdles, taking seventh place in the process.

These athletes advance to the state meet, scheduled to take place at the University of Georgia from May 11-14.